Interview with Bangkok Dangerous Star Nicolas Cage

ReelzChannel sat down with Nicolas Cage, who stars in Bangkok Dangerous as an assassin hired by a mob boss to carry out a series of contract killings in Thailand.

ReelzChannel: You and your character had one big thing in common -- you were both working overseas with an international cast of characters. Why was this movie a challenge you were willing to take?

Cage: I wanted to make a movie that had nothing to do with "the Hollywood formula." This is about as far away as you can get from National Treasure. This is an Asian movie, not an American movie.

RC: In the movie, your character takes an interest in people outside of work.

Cage: I'm married to a Korean lady and I have feelings of enchantment and also feelings of bewilderment -- How do I fit into this new culture? So I was in the right place when this script came by. I said, "Yeah, I'm this character." He's the only white guy in an all-Asian world. What would that be like for him? I think I know, know what those feelings are like. I can just sort of lose myself in the character.

RC: While in Thailand, you witnessed political events that might have made shooting in Bangkok truly dangerous.

Cage: There was a military coup that happened. That's about as far out as you can get for an American -- tanks rolling down the street and it could have gone either way. You know it could have been an incredibly violent experience. And it was hopefully something that won't happen again, but it was a peaceful resolution.

RC: Despite the threat of civil war, Cage was determined to finish the movie.

Cage: People were relying on me in my work. That means you have to go back and finish the movie. It had already started and there was a lot of money riding on it. I had to go back and finish it, cause I gave them my word that I would.

RC: It was in you contract?

Cage: Yes, we had an arrangement. But political assassination wasn't in the contract.